The anatomy of the vessels which supply the face and scalp is complex and is challenging to master in its entirety, on account of the large number of small calibre vessels supplying the skin and particular muscles. Nonetheless, this complexity should not obscure the basic pattern whereby all these small arteries arise from the major vessels lying deep within the neck. An example is the facial artery, which arises as the fourth branch off the external carotid artery in the region of the head. This vessel then divides multiple times to provide the many superficial vessels supplying the face. The most useful picture is of a network of vessels spreading outwards from a central point, the heart, with branches and interconnections at various points. The common carotid artery is a branch of the aorta. It then divides, forming the internal and external carotid vessels. The internal carotid artery does not usually branch at all until it enters the skull, albeit this pattern does not apply in rare instances. It is the external carotid artery which gives rise to all the vessels supplying the face and scalp. The middle portion of the face has an abundant vascular supply thanks to the musculocutaneous perforating arterial branches arising from the facial artery. Furthermore, the superficial temporal artery anastomoses at several points with the musculocutaneous branches, as does the ophthalmic artery.